(L-R) Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, president and CEO of Mapúa University, Chess Grandmaster Eugene O. Torre, and Maria Lina, wife of GM Torre, during the awarding of the honorary degree at the Philippine International Convention Center last February 2, 2023.
Mapúa University awarded Chess Grandmaster Eugene O. Torre an honorary Doctor of Science degree during its 17th Commencement Exercises held at the Philippine International Convention Center last February 2, 2023, which GM Torre also graced as the guest speaker.
The honorary doctorate was awarded to GM Torre in recognition of his efforts to promote and showcase his talent on the global stage, which blazed a path for many Filipino and Asian chess players. It also lauds his significant contribution to the fund of knowledge in the game of chess that helped develop chess-playing computer algorithms.
“Mapúa is keen in recognizing individuals who champion learning in different forms and methods. Grandmaster Eugene Torre exemplifies this trait by encouraging young individuals of different race and age to pursue the game of chess. He provides avenues for them to master and showcase their skills and make a mark in society. He is an inspiration to many,” said Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, president and CEO of Mapúa.
Chess Grandmaster Eugene O. Torre delivering his commencement speech
During his speech, GM Torre shared that two of his brothers pursued engineering and graduated from Mapúa, which was then Mapúa Institute of Technology. His siblings Vicente Torre, who was also a competitive chess player, took up electrical engineering and George Torre took up chemical engineering, with the latter topping his board exam in 1965. He, on the other hand, took up business administration which he later had to put on hold to go pro, with an ultimatum from his parents to pursue it back if he still hasn’t earned the grandmaster title in two years.
“The recognition shows the respect and appreciation of the people in the academe for athletes like me who had to sacrifice education to achieve a dream so rare, so they can contribute to promoting the Filipino race,” said GM Torre.
GM Torre bagged the grandmaster title in 1974, and at the age of 22, became the first Asian chess grandmaster. In October 2022, GM Torre was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame in Missouri, USA. He is the first Asian male to be inducted.
He is also the first Asian to defeat a reigning world champion, Anatoly Karpov, in 1976. He played in a total of 23 Chess Olympiads, from 1970 to 2016, the most by anyone in history.